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From: Dara
Date: 26 Sep 2000
Time: 11:14:52
Remote Name: p104-186.atnt1.dialup.abq1.flash.net
Hi Jena!
Thanks for the post. Here's my view on disability culture's existance. I have no doubt in my mind that it does exist. I believe some people choose not to recognize it because of a misunderstanding of what a culture is and others don't recognize it because they never thought about it.
To me, this dictionary definition of culture works for disability culture. Cambridge Dictionary says culture is "a way of life, especially general customs and beliefs of a particular group...". And don't we all who are disabled belive that our particular group must live life a particular way and that we as a group are fighting discrimination in education, independent living, living choices, abillity to make money, and so on? Do we not identify with another person, stranger or not, when they have a similar disability as our own?
Our experiences are common and when they are disbility experiences, they are different from a nondisabled person's. When we experience disability as a disabled person, we can explain it to a nondisabled person but they will not fully understand because they are not disabled. As disabled people we can express ourselves from a disablity perspective in writing, speaking, by example, in art, and more. In doing this, we are expressing our culture, the way we think and feel as disabled people. Another example: Discrimination and stereotyping of a person with a disability anywhere in the world affects me as a disabled person. For instance, if a TV program shows a person using a wheelchair (as I do) as a pathetic helpless dependent whose world is sad and depressing, it reflects on me as far as other people are concerned. A statement is made about the wheelchair user and as a whhelchair user, that statement will apply to me in the eyes of the world. That's why so many Disabled people have joined together, have united, have identified with one another, have accepted our differences, and at last, are working hard and long to create the truth about disability. That, to me, is a culture. And one I'm quite proud of.
Please let me know what you think, Jena. Any more thoughts? Thanks - Dara